Driving device



June 22, 1965, J. WERNER 3,190,140

I I DRIVING DEVICE Filed Nov. 8, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .70 van for:

JOl/A NNES IVER/VH2 By: M 1M ,4 fro ENE Ys June 22, 1965 J. WERNER 3,190,140

' DRIVING DEVICE Filed Nov. 8, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 44 Fig. [0

.717 venlor:

ArroR/vEYs United States Patent 3,190,140 a DRIVING DEVICE Johannes Werner, OiIenbach (Main), Germany, assignor to H. T. Golde G.m.b.H., & C0,, K.G., Frankfurt am Main,'Germany t Filed Nov. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 236,341 Claims priority, application Germany, Nov. 16, 1961, G 33,605; June 12, 1962, G 35,182 Claims. (Cl. 74-501) This invention relates to a driving device. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a driving device, comprising a long member,

projecting portions of said member spaced apart there-. along, a one-piece driver formed from sheet material, a

portion of said driver which isbentfabout an axis extending in the same direction as does the axis of said member and which'embraces said member, and portions of Said driver defining holes therein which receive said projecting portions, whereby said driver is put in driving connection with said member.

According to another aspect of the'present invention The driver can be manufacturedin a simple and inexpensive manner and can be arranged'to transmit to another piece the axial movement of the long member which can take the form of a rack, or an axially-displaceable cable having annular ribs or a helical rib at its periphery. A cable has the advantage that it does not have to extend in a' straight line, but can be made to follow any desired path of travel. The cable is preferably so guided that it is rigid to tensile and compressive forces in an axial direction.

In particular, the driving device can be used in the operation of sliding roofs or sliding windows of motor vehicles. a

The driving device can be made by punching a plate in one piece from sheet material, and then embracing the core of the cable at least over a greater part of the circumference thereof by suitable bending of the plate, the plate having been punched. with a pluralityofapertures for the engagement of the projecting portions of the cable. The apertures are made parallel to one. another and correspond in their length to the circumferential extent "of hte embraced peripheral portion and in their mutual spacing to the spacing of the annular ribs, or the pitch of the helical ribof the cable.

Preferably, the width of the punched plate is greater than the circumference of the surrounded core, so that at least one end is available as a fixing flange for the piece to be displaced.

If the driver is usedwith a cable guided in a" tubular guide duct, two flanges of the driver project through a longitudinal slot in the guide duct and are preferably connected fast one to the other, so that the core of the cable is tightly embraced, and the driver, which is held against rotation in the slot even if the cable happens to rotate, is only free for longitudinal displacement. 7

Alternatively, the driver could form with its punchedout apertures a running nut on the cable or a spindle, so

3,190,141] Patented June 22, 1965 by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional side View of part of a driving device including a driver,

FIGURE 2 shows a section takenon the hue 11-11 of FIGURE 1, Y

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a punched plate before bending to form the driver,

FIGURE 4 is a sectionalend view of an open-section piece formed by partly bending the plate,

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a modified version of the punched plate before bending to form a modified version of the driver,

ice

FIGURE 6 is a side view of part of the driving device Referring to FIGURES l to 4, a driver is formed from a plate 1 (see FIGURE 3) punched from sheet metal or sheet plastic and having therein punched-out apertures 2 which are parallel to one another. The plate portions between the apertures 2 are identified by numeral 12. The driver 1 has a portion 4 which is bent about an axis extending in the same direction as does the axis of the cable 7 and which embraces the latter.

The cable consists of a flexible core 10 and a helical rib 11 fixed toand surrounding the core. The dimension of the aperture 2 measured in the axial direction of the cable corresponds to the thickness of the helical rib 11, and the dimension 3 of the apertures corresponds approximately to the circumference of the cable core 10 or slightly less than the length of one turn of the helical rib.

In assembling the device, initially, as FIGURE 4 shows, the plate 1 is so bent at the portion 4 that it forms an open-section piece which can be brought to surround partly the cable core 10, whereby the screw thread 11 engages in the slot-shaped apertures 2 which form, so to speak, a co-operating thread. The flanges 5 and 5' projecting from respective sides of the portion 4 are so bent over at 6 from the position shown in FIGURE 4 and then brought together face-to-face that they project from the cable in respective, planes parallel one to the other and to the axis of the cable, as FIGURE 2 shows.

The driveris guided rectilinearly in a slot 8 formed longitudinally in a tubular cable guide '9 surrounding the cable 7. The guide 9 is provided with the slot 8 at least over the path of movement of the driver. The cable 7 is so guided by the guide duct 9 as to be rigid to axial force, and the rib 11 consists of a helical wire. The guide 9 can consist of a flexible tube provided with a longitudinal slot'over the working region of the driver 1, so that the cable is guided in the manner of a Bowden cable.

The flanges 5 and 5 are used for longitudinal guiding in the slot 8 and at the same time for fixing to a displaceable piece 14, which is here shown only schematically, but can be, for example, a fitting on a sliding window which is to be moved parallel to the slot 8. The two flanges 5 and 5 are provided with depressions 13 for effecting a welded connection between thetwo flanges.-

Alternatively, theymay'be connected in some other way,

for example by rivetting or screwing as they lie in face-toface contact.

.The flanges extend through a slot 14 in the piece 14 and are connected rigidly, preferably in "a releasable manner, to the piece 14. 1 This rigid connection can be .eifected by screws or split pins. However, these ends portions of the flanges Sand situated beyond the slot 14' in the parti l, can be'simply' bent over, or twisted,

withthe aid ,ofwealteningcuts 15, out of the planes oft the respective flanges.

Theflanges 5 and 5 of the driver can operate limit switches 'for interrupting the cable drive," or can form witn'the ends of the slot 8 mechanical stop means for limiting the cable movement.

In regard to FIGURE 5, a punched platezti for-forming a driverhas two identical, spaced, main parts 21 and 22 connected integrally onetothe, other by two narrow webs Hand 24. Each of the twoiparts 21' and 22 has i formed in its central portion a group of parallel punchedapertures 25 or 26, the inclination of whichcorresponds to the pitch angle of a helical wire 38 of a cable 36 for which the driver is intended.

' As compared with the inclined slots 25 and 26, dilie r- 1 ent apertures would be provided if the driver is intended 'not' to embrace a'helically ribbed long member but to embrace some other long member. For example, for a spindle having annular ribs there will be formed; not the inclined slots 25 and 26, but:noninclined, parallel apertures, whilstshor't' apertures spaced in accordance with the tooth pitch will beprovided fora rack having teeth onone side only;

Each. part 21 or 22 has at respective opposite sides cal rib of the cable. Side portions 45 and 46 are provided with respective elongated holes 47.- and 48.. p 7

As shown in FIGURES 9 and the flanges 45a andv 46a of the driver formed from the plate 40 bear face-t0- face one against the other, whilst flange extensions45b and 4617 are bentat right angles to the flanges andthus form.

a flat surface to which a movablepiece can be fixed. The

' fixing is1 expediently; effected by means of screwstnot shown) which extend throughnthe elongatedholes'into tapped holes Whichare provided in the piece to be dis-Y placed, for example in .a'fitting, of a sliding window (not shown).

The elongated form of the, holes allows for manufac- I turing tolerances in a simple manner. However, it wouldalso be possible to provide circular holes. Instead of a screw connection, it would also be possible to select an other appropriate method of fastening the'flange ;exten.

' sions 45b and 46b to a window fitting.

of central portion flanges 27 and 28, or 29 and 36, which project laterally outwardly beyond webs 23 and 24. During the assembly of the device, the" plate shown in FIGURE 5 is bent to'form an open-section piece between In the case-of a rig-id rack, there is no. need to have a tubular guide duct. a I claim: v 1

. 1."A driving' device comprising a cable having radial fprojections, a driver-member surrounding said cable,land a tubular guide, enveloping said cable and said driver member while permitting relative axial movement oftsaid cableandsaiddriver'mernberwithin said guide, the latter I including a'longitudinal slot, said driver member. comprisng a single sheet ofmaterial' including elongated apertures, said sheet being bent around substantiallythe entire cablewith said projections'extending into said apertures, the "opposing :endsof said sheet extending through :said

i slot to form a conneictor port-ion for-making connection the limbs of which-there remainsan opening adequate for the insertion of the cable 36. After the insertion of the 1 cable, the helical wire 38 projects through the slots 25 and 26, Whilst webs 25" and 26 remaining between the slots bear closely againsta cable core 37.

face-to-face contact (see FIGURE' 6 the, external diameter of the central portions-ofthe main 'parts' Zl and 22 is not greater than the external diameter-pf the cable.

' The cable 36 which'is situated in a tubular guide (not shown in FIGURE 6 or 7, but see FIGURE 1) when ,in its working state, is'therefore not hindered by the driver in its axial movement in the guide duct. The

flanges 27 to 30 and also the webs 23 and 24, which extend longitudinally'otthe cable. 36, project through a witha'driven member.

2.,A-drivingdevice comprising a c'ablehaving external threads and being subject to tension and pressure a driver.

member roundedfabout said cable, a tubular; guide enveloping'said cable and said drivermemb'er while'permit- When theflanges 27 to 30'have'been'broughtto lie in longitudinal slot in the tubular guide 'dust and thuscan.

be connected to FIGURE 6 shows the driver closed about mecable.

The flangesfof each pair areconnected releasably or permanently to one another,-for example by. rivettingfor welding with the aid of depressions 13, or suitable screw connections. Numerals 31 and 32 denote respective-main parts of driver plate 20, similarto the atom-mentioned members which are to be moved with the' cable 36.

parts 21 and 22 .(for which see FIGURES). 'The;

numeral. 34. 1 7 Whereas, instead of and 24 reliably maintain thechosen spacing between the the illustrated two webs and 24, itwould also be'possible to provide a single long1- tudinalweb, for example the web 23,-the two webs23 f points registering with the depressions 13 are identified by two parts 21 and 22. In many cases, it may also be con- 'venient to havea single, continuousflange at each side of the driver instead of the two flanges-27 and29 or 28 and 30. jM'ore over, instead of having'a gap between the two groups of webs 25f and 26, that gap can'befilled. with further lands or webs, if this proves desirable in view of the amount of forcetojbe transmitted. Y

' With reference to FIGURES 8 to '10 the driver shown is intended for use' with 'a helically ribbed cable, although a suit-ably modified version of it can also be used with other longmembers. A punched plate 49 is providedwith" BROUGHTON' QDURHAM,Primar Examiner.

punched-out apertures 42' so that webs 44 are formed which are intended to engage between the turns of the heliting relative axial movement of i said cable within said guide, the latter includi'nga longitudinal slot, said driver "member having a connector; portion extending through said slot for connection to adriven member, saiddriver member comprising asingle sheet of:ma-terial including elongated apertures, tightly bent around substantially the entire cable with said threads extending into said apertures, 7. said, connector port-ion comprising flanges on opposing 1 ends of said sheet; 7 v l t 3. A driving device according "to claim 2, wherein said 7 driver member comprises three longitudinal sectionsythe 1 two outer sections including. said apertures and: Fsaid flanges, the central section: including at least one web forv connecting saidflanges of the outer sections. w? 4. -Adr'iving device according to claim 2, wherein said flanges include weakened areas to facilitate connection] of said flanges to said driven member.

i 5. A driving device accordingto' claim 2 wherein said flangesextendmg through said slot are welded together;

References Cited by theE xaminerg-j V UNITEDSTA TES PATENTS 

1. A DRIVING DEVICE COMPRISING A CABLE HAVING RADIAL PROJECTIONS, A DRIVER MEMBER SURROUNDING SAID CABLE, AND A TUBULAR GUIDE ENVELOPING SAID CABLE AND SAID DRIVER MEMBER WHILE PERMITTING RELATIVE AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID CABLE AND SAID DRIVER MEMBER WITHIN SAID GUIDE, THE LATTER INCLUDING A LONGITUDINAL SLOT, SAID DRIVER MEMBER COMPRISING A SINGLE SHEET OF MATERIAL INCLUDING ELONGATED APERTURES, SAID SHEET BEING BENT AROUND SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE CABLE WITH SAID PROJECTIONS EXTENDING INTO SAID APERTURES, THE OPPOSING ENDS OF SAID SHEET EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT TO FORM A CONNECTOR PORTION FOR MAKING CONNECTION WITH A DRIVEN MEMBER. 